9:55am Monday 15th March 2010
By Andy Cryer
PAUL Robinson’s World Cup dreams have been left hanging in the balance as Blackburn Rovers anxiously await news on the goalkeeper’s calf injury.
The England contender was carried off after just 25 minutes of Saturday’s 3-1 defeat at Tottenham, after appearing to tear his calf following a clearance, with a scan expected to be carried out today to show the extent of the tear.
Roman Pavlyuchenko’s second half double added to Jermain Defoe’s 45th minute opener to keep Spurs’ top four bid on track, with Chris Samba’s 80th minute giving Rovers brief hope.
Robinson’s hopes of being selected for the summer’s World Cup in South Africa have been dwindling over the last few months, with Fabio Capello ignoring him for several squads, but, with the third goalkeeper spot still wide open, a good season run-in could yet see him force his way back into contention.
Robinson, and Rovers, will now be holding their breath ahead of the scan results knowing a lengthy absence could harm the club’s Premier League campaign and his own international aspirations.
Sam Allardyce will recall either Mark Bunn from Sheffield United or Frank Fielding from Rochdale today to act as back-up between the posts to Jason Brown, ahead of crucial back-to-back home games against Chelsea and Birmingham.
The Rovers boss has though backed former Gillingham man Brown to provide cover for Robinson’s inevitable cover – insisting the change between the posts at Tottenham did not influence the result.
Brown made a couple of good saves before the break, one from Gael Givet and one from Pavlyuchenko, but should have done better with the striker's first goal on 55 minutes when his tame shot squirmed under his body.
He has had to be patient during his Rovers career, playing second fiddle to first Brad Friedel and then Robinson, but has impressed in the few games he has appeared in.
Allardyce said: “Robbo's injury doesn't look so clever. It is a calf injury and we will have to have it scanned, see the extent of the tear and see how long it would take to repair that.
“It gives Jason an opportunity to come into the fray and show us what he can do. He has done a great job in the small time he has played this season and hopefully that will stand him in good stead and he will do a very good job.
“I could not see any real blame for the first goal for Jason. Even if he had stayed on his line I don't think he would have stopped that goal.
“We will also have to look at where and who we should recall next week.”
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